Fashion is cyclical. One summer we’re wearing baggy cargo shorts, and the next summer we’re wearing… 3-inch inseams?!

That’s right, millennial gays can stop panicking. Though Gen Z appeared to be leading us into the XXL section, we’ve reclaimed our thighs from all that loose fabric, and set them free.

Nike’s 3-inch logo volley shorts are back on the market. Who wants one? We do!

It was just nine months ago when Joel Kim Booster, and others, proclaimed that booty shorts were out and big shorts were in. The trend continued throughout the winter, with skinny jeans giving way to really, really large pants.

But similarly to other sudden cultural shifts, there’s been an apparent backlash to the oversized craze. We’re walking right past the 5-inch inseams, and heading straight to the butt-huggers.

To our 30ish-something eyes, the fit is 🔥🔥🔥

Related*

It only makes sense that gays would want to show off their glorious glutes. Unlike the straights, we take leg day seriously!

Thicc thighs save lives… or at least grab our attention. 🦵

A 2021 survey of 102 gay men found that 37% of respondents prefer a bigger lower body, and 48% like to see an athletic upper body paired with a strong butt.

For comparison’s sake, 32% of respondents said they prefer a bigger upper body, and only 20% lust after a huge upper body with a weak butt.

It’s also worth noting that many of our favorite celebs never bought into the big shorts trend. Just a couple of days ago, Matt Bomer was photographed in itty-bitty booty shorts on the beach, raising our gay antennas straight to attention. (He’s filming his new movie, a dark comedy called Outcome.)

But perhaps no group of male celebs has embraced teeny-tiny shorts more than hunky heteros. Paul Mescal has been our unabashed short shorts king for a while, though competition is fierce. Quadricep-baring aficionados like Milo Ventimiglliai, Jake Gyllenhaal, The Rock, and Cristiano Ronaldo all have strong man-thigh games.

Star Trek stud Chris Pine put it best when he was pictured wearing white short shorts. “I don’t think there is anything to defend,” he said about his shorts game. “It’s called short shorts, isn’t it? It’s supposed to be short.”

No argument here!

OFC, there could never be any talk about short shorts without hoards of gay men using the discourse as an opportunity to humble brag about their (supposed) assets. All week long, gays have been bemoaning about how they can’t wear 3-inch in seams, because, you know…

To which we say: step up and show us! Seeing is believing, after all.

Related*

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Once Monthly Annually

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated